The number of women in employment since 2008 has increased by more than a quarter of a million, a 1.2% net rise, while the number of men in work has dropped by 70,000, a 0.4% net fall, a study of official labour market data has shown. The analysis by The Jobs Economist, an employment consultancy which publishes the research today, claims the widespread assertion that women have been more adversely affected by austerity and job cuts than men is wrong. Dr John Philpott, director of The Jobs Economist, said he can see no reason why the Government is focusing on trying to help get more women back to work when men appear to have been worst hit by job cuts.